Established in 1877, the Fresno Fire Department is one of the oldest departments in the United States, rich in history and tradition. Today, the department strives to be an innovative and progressive organization in order to meet the changing demands of the city and the fire districts, which the department provides service to.

In December 2003, the Mayor and Council established a Public Safety Commission to focus on the public safety needs for the department for the next 20 years. The development of a long-term strategy to ensure the public safety was adequately funded and provides for the quality and level of service the residents expect. The Public Safety Commission report stated the community must utilize available resources in the most effective and efficient manner through the regionalization of services and the department has taken this charge very seriously.

On January 1, 2006, the department began serving the Fig Garden Fire Protection District.

On February 1, 2006, the Fire Department moved its dispatch service to Fresno County EMS. The creation of a centralized dispatch center for fire and EMS has helped to reduce overall travel times to emergencies, reduced cost, and improved service to city and county residents.

The merging of operational services has provided an enhanced level of service for the residents of the City, Fig Garden and North Central Fire Protection Districts. Combining forces the department’s 346 authorized personnel, including 303 sworn safety members, serve a 336-square-mile area and a service population of approximately 525,000 residents from 24 fire stations.

The department’s pursuit of excellence also includes focus on its mission, core values, and vision. Each is reflective of the desire to create a culture of excellence in fire and emergency service delivery.

Install & Maintain Smoke Detectors : Smoke detectors warn you of a fire in time for you to escape. Install them on each level of your home and outside of each sleeping area. Test them once a month, and follow manufacture's direction. Replace batteries twice a year or whenever a detector chirps to signal that its battery is low. Don't ever borrow batteries for other uses - a disabled smoke detector can't save a life!